Hacking His Code (Beguiling a Billionaire Book 7), page 19
“Sadie, you too!” Zev calls.
Sadie dons a sardonic look, walking over slowly. Ari tries to stay behind, but Sadie insists on her inclusion.
“I’m beginning to feel like a sales rep,” Sadie jokes as she forces Ari into our circle, “trying to convince the new girl that she should join our cult.”
“You’re all just so nice,” Ari mutters, clearly uncomfortable.
“Well, I’m still working on Hunter here,” Zev claps a hand on my shoulder, “and I was going to get his thoughts on the big question at large.”
“Jesus Christ,” Sadie snaps. “Not this again!”
“We might as well suffer through it for the dozenth time,” Cassius says with a chuckle. “They’re never going to let it go.”
“You see, Hunter, there’s this ongoing question—”
“There is no question,” Sadie interjects.
“Regarding who Cassius made come first: Sadie or her mother.”
I remember Cassius telling me the story at the hospital, but I feign shock all the same.
Ari’s face is paper white.
Sadie sighs. “You may have heard that during the trial for the O Go, there was a woman admitted to the hospital.”
Ari nods.
“That was my mother. She found a bottle of the O Go lying around and thought they were heart pills.”
Arinessa’s eyes flutter open and shut a dozen times. “That was your mother?”
Zev is bright red from laughter, and even Cassius is wearing a comical grin.
Sadie, however, does not look pleased.
They begin talking amongst each other, and Ari slips away.
Unable to bear the tension any longer, I go after her, tapping a finger on her shoulder.
She turns, her brow shooting upward.
“You look great,” I say awkwardly, which is completely unlike me. I’m pretty suave when it comes to women, but then again, none of the others have ever meant anything to me before.
“Same. For you. You look…dapper.” Her voice wavers.
Men are supposed to love confident women, but the fact that Arinessa is unsure of herself doesn’t turn me off at all. It makes me want to be the one to show her that she’s worthy of being adored.
She’s the only woman I want to be with.
I look around to make sure no one else is listening in. “I have a lot to apologize for.”
Ari crosses her arms over her chest. “I can only think of one thing that requires your apology.”
“I didn’t know the trial—”
“That’s not it.”
I furrow my brow. “You’re not mad at that? You left right after—”
“The trial isn’t why she took a turn for the worse. If anything, the trail saved her. I left because I felt guilty. She’ll be coming out of her coma soon, and she may make a full recovery.”
My face lights in elation. “That’s great!”
“But I’m still mad, just not about that.”
“Oh…so you must be mad about Neon?”
She nods, glaring me down.
“I’m sorry. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
“Forgive me for arguing, but you weren’t doing a great job of that before I arrived on scene.”
Her face contorts in angry rage. Of course, I had to say the stupidest thing one could to a woman who’s trying to be independent.
“I didn’t mean that! I was trying to be cute.”
“Just don’t ever try to deceive me like that again. I trusted her! If you ever lie to me again, I’ll leave every room you enter.”
“Understood.”
“And I’ll have you know, I’m not as helpless as you believe I am. I got a job with Gabriel Icor—all on my own.”
My stomach twists with the knowledge that that is indeed a deception I’ve perpetuated.
“I’m going to have to tell you something…and you’re probably going to want to be mad. Please, don’t be.”
“What?”
“I kind of asked Gabriel to hire you.”
Her face falls. I swear to God, I’d rather be kicked in the nuts than see her looking so dejected.
“I’m sorry! I just needed to know that you were going to be okay, and you’re so damn stubborn.”
She releases a shuddering breath. “How could I be mad at that?”
“You’re one of the smartest women I know,” I say honestly. “Don’t let this get you down.”
She gives a reticent smile.
“And might I add that you look amazing in the clothes Neon picked out for you?” I take a small step closer, so I’m a breath away. “I could barely take my eyes off of you tonight.”
Her chest rises and falls like a piston. I can tell because so much of it is on display from the corset, blouse combo—thank you, Neon.
She bites her lower lip, and I have a feeling I’ve done a good job of winning her affection. All I have to do is break through the final barrier she has erected, and I can win my girl back.
“Can I have your attention, please!” Gabriel says, tinging his fork against a glass.
Dammit!
I look over to see Remi standing with Gabriel on one side and his mother, Scarlet Primrose, on the other.
“Oh, what ever could this announcement be?” Fiona says sarcastically.
“Thank you all for coming back to the tower tonight. It’s always good to be around friends, old and new.” He tips his head towards Ari and me. “Mother, I’m sure you’d like to do the honors.”
Scarlet puts a protective arm around Remi, who looks like a hostage. “I am excited to announce that Remi Icor is carrying my first grandchild!”
It’s the oddest pregnancy announcement I’ve ever heard, but I’m fairly certain my mother would do no better.
“I knew it!” Fiona shouts. “You can’t just show up at ladies’ night when you have a driver and drink only water.”
“It really was the lamest ladies’ night I’ve ever been to,” Sari Heartshire says. “Instead of going to a bar, we would have been better off going to tea time with Remi, Sadie, and that new girl.” She waves her hand in Ari’s direction.
What is that supposed to mean?
Ari’s reaction tells me everything I need to know. At first, a deer in headlights look crosses her face, but it’s quickly replaced with anger.
Ari doesn’t trust people, so the last thing she’d want is people knowing her business, and right now, people are staring at her in curiosity.
I guess I’m going to be a father.
“When are you due?” Fiona asks Remi.
Remi chuckles. “Actually…we just found out. We haven’t even seen the doctor yet. We only decided to tell you guys now because Scarlet would literally explode if she had to hold it in.”
The room breaks out in laughter.
Arinessa looks down at her feet.
Don’t fuck this up.
The girls descend upon Remi, except Ari, who is lost in her own world. Even Sari is congratulatory.
The guys are punching Gabriel in the arm, telling him ‘nice aim’ and ‘girls just love a dad bod.’ I say my own congratulations before turning to Ari.
Now I just need to figure out how to make everything right between us.
Snapping out of her shock, Ari joins in the revelry, embracing Remi and giving her well wishes.
A tug on my arm averts my attention.
“Someone told me that you’re Hunter Davies,” says Scarlet Primrose.
Her beauty rivals my mother’s, though I would never admit that to a soul. She’s dripping in diamonds and gold, a bit too flashy for my mother’s taste, but a stunning sight all the same.
“You’ve heard right,” I say with a charming smile.
She moves to embrace me, but I put my hands up and back away.
“Hold up…my mother would never let me back into the house if she knew I consorted with the Scarlet Primrose.”
More than one person is listening in on our interaction, chuckling at how she’s looking at me up and down.
“I wouldn’t mind taking you under my wing, if ya know what I mean.” She gives me a sultry wink.
“Mother!” Gabriel says in horror. His face grows pale.
“Do you think I’d really pass up an opportunity to get under Ernestine’s skin?” she says. “If she were here, she’d be laying it on thick for you too.”
“But you haven’t so much as dated since Father died.”
Their interactions are comical, but all I can think of is Arinessa, who appears to be making the rounds, getting ready to leave.
I wait for the perfect moment before I approach, after she’s said her final goodbye.
This is your one shot. Don’t fuck this up.
“Arinessa?”
She stops, pivoting on her feet to face me. “Yes?”
“If there’s ever something you need, please let me know.”
She looks me up and down, her face unreadable. I don’t know if perhaps I’ve been too forward. After all, she essentially cut me out of her life.
Finally, I say, “I’ll let you get on with your life now. Take care.”
As I begin to turn, Ari clears her throat, and I return my attention to her.
“I can meet my own needs, thank you very much, but there are a few wants you could help me with,” she says, biting her lower lip.
Stunned, it takes me a moment to find my words.
“Would you care to resume this conversation back at my place?”
She smiles, her eyes roving up and down my body. “I’d like that.”
Arinessa
I’m done playing games.
From now on, I’m going for what I want.
We arrive at the Davies’ estate, and on our way to Hunter’s suite, we see Ernestine and Rand in the hall.
Ernestine’s brow lifts in surprise. “Arinessa?”
Drunk on excitement, I rush toward her, taking her into a hug. “It’s good to see you again.”
She looks skeptically over at Rand. “It’s good to see you too.”
Hunter’s hand finds the small of my back. “I have a feeling you’ll be seeing a lot more of her going forward. I hope you’re okay with that.”
Ernestine smiles with her lips but questions with her eyes. “She’s welcome here any time.”
I remember watching her with Neon, bright and lively on the screen. A woman with bold ambitions and a fiery personality.
So little in common with the woman standing before me. But there’s a reason for that, and I have a feeling we’ll be addressing it soon.
As Hunter pulls me toward his suite, I look back over my shoulder and say, “We should do brunch again.”
“I’d love to,” she returns.
Hunter closes the door behind us, then presses me up against it, sealing his lips to mine.
God, I didn’t realize how much I needed this.
His body presses against me, his cock hard against my thigh. There’s an urgency to our coupling. We both feel it.
His tongue caresses mine hungrily. He tastes strongly of liquor, which somehow adds to his over-the-top sexiness.
His hand slides into the waistband of my shorts, maneuvering my panties to the side and rubbing lightly along my sex. I release a shuddering breath, anticipating his invasive touch.
“God, you’re already so wet,” he rasps. “I’ve been dreaming about this for the last three weeks.”
I groan, spreading my legs, encouraging him to explore.
“Tell me how badly you want me, Ari.”
“So fucking badly.”
He takes his other hand and forces my chin up so that I’m gazing into his eyes. “Look at me when you say it.”
“I want you, Hunter.”
“Tell me exactly what you want.”
He massages my clit, circling his fingers in a rhythm that makes my legs weak.
“Tell me!”
“I want you to make me come.”
“That sounds so sexy,” Hunter whispers, his other hand trailing from my chin, down my neck, over my breasts and corset, to my waistband.
He pulls my shorts and panties down, slipping them over my boots and off my body. Then, he drops to his knees, bringing his fingers up to trace the delicate folds of my sex.
His warm breath washes over me, a gentle tease. Impatient, I push my hips forward, and when he chuckles in response, I reach down and grab a hand full of hair and pull him to me.
He takes the hint, delving his tongue along my sensitive flesh.
Looking down at him on his knees, his shaggy hair falling over his face as he pleases me, is intoxicating. He isn’t sweet and sensual like he was the first time we were together. Instead, he’s hungry. Urgent. Demanding.
He forces my legs further apart, bringing a hand up to my core and sliding a finger inside me.
His tongue glides along my lips, honing in on my clit, drawing me closer and closer to my inevitable conclusion.
My body rushes toward releases, my hips bucking wildly upward, and as my passion spills, Hunter tightens his grip on me.
Oh, fuck…
As I come, I scream out in ecstasy, riding the heigh of my orgasm as Hunter works his magic, drawing out my pleasure.
Finally, my body calms, and he pulls away.
I’m panting, unable to speak, unable to even think. I nearly collapse, my body is so spent.
Hunter rises, taking me firmly by the arm and pulling me further into his suite.
I walk on shakes legs over to the table I worked at so diligently.
“Bend over.” He guides me roughly, bending me over the table.
He’s never been forceful with me before, though when he made love to me, his urgency brought out a beast in him. Part of me is scared…another part, excited. Sure, it’s nice being treated like a lady, but this is so much more interesting.
I hear the unzipping of jeans followed by the rustle of fabric. His foot pushes one of my legs further to the side, opening me for him and making me feel like I’m on display. His hips press against my ass, his cock against my leg. His hands snake up my body, reaching around to my breasts. After a quick fondle, he grabs the hem of my corset, ripping it open so my breasts spill out.
How can any man make me feel this good?
My heart races as Hunter teases my sensitive nipples. Then, he takes a hand and moves it between my legs, but instead of entering me, he squats and licks lightly across the folds of my pussy.
The sensations are so powerful, I can feel myself on the verge of exploding.
He thumbs my clit as his tongue stretches into me, edging me closer to release. Everything is happening so fast, like an exhausting sprint. I’m panting, shaking, trembling, barely able to support myself.
I come hard, collapsing onto the table as my body quakes, and when I finally still, Hunter climbs up from the floor, and I know there’s more to come.
He pulls me upward, repositioning me across the table. This time when I feel his cock against my thigh, I brace for impact.
His hands reach around, grabbing my breasts as he presses against my core.
“I love how wet you are for me,” Hunter rasps.
He pushes into me, past my lips, plunging deep inside. I cry out from pleasure just as much as I do from pain.
He groans, his forehead pressing against my back, his lips kissing my spine.
“You’re so fucking tight,” he whispers, keeping one hand on my breast and bringing the other to my hip, pushing into me harder and faster until he fills me completely.
My passion builds, though how I have any left is beyond me. The steady rhythm of his cock pushing harder and faster into me ignites a spark, and I soon start spiraling wildly out of control.
“Oh, God, don’t stop—I’m close.”
“Fuck, Ari, you can’t just say that,” Hunter growls. “I’m trying my hardest to last longer than a fucking teenager.”
I focus on the pressure building within me, the steady pulse emanating from my core, and as Hunter quickens, I feel my passion spill again.
My pussy clenches around his cock as another orgasm rips through me, coursing through my body like electricity, leaving me spent and unable to hold myself up.
Hunter stops pumping, his body slumping over onto mine.
“Fuck, you make me crazy,” Hunter says, kissing my neck.
“Look what you’ve done to me?” I return.
After a groan, Hunter gets up, helps me right myself, and sits me atop the table.
“God, how did I get so lucky?” he says, his eyes roving my body.
I look like a hot mess in my thigh highs and the shredded remains of my corset and blouse still clinging to me, but Hunter doesn’t seem to care.
His cock is glistening with a mixture of our fluids, still hard, reminding me of what we just did.
“I hope I wasn’t too rough,” he whispers. “Seeing you dressed like this brought out the beast within.”
“It was…Jesus, I don’t have words for it.” My hands reach up and touch his chest. “I’m exhausted.”
“Let’s get you to bed…and I do mean the bed. I don’t care if you don’t like how high it is. I’m going to love watching your sexy ass as you climb up.”
He bends to kiss me softly, sweetly, then gets to work removing my boots, corset, and blouse until I’m sitting completely naked for him to ogle.
“Can I ask you something?” he says hesitantly.
“What?”
“Are you pregnant?”
My breathing grows erratic. I hadn’t expected to have this discussion tonight, though I know I can’t avoid it now.
“Hey, hey, there’s nothing to get upset about,” he assures.
“I didn’t plan it.”
“Neither did I,” he says, his voice kind and caring.
“You’re not mad?”
“Do I look mad?”
“I didn’t know how you’d react. I was terrified.”
“Oh, this is a huge relief. Can you imagine how my mother would react if she found out Scarlet Primrose was about to become a grandmother with no hope for her in sight?”
I smile back at him, remembering her words. Sure, she wants to be a grandmother, but it’s more for her son than it is for her. She wants him to have someone in this world, and hopefully, me and the baby will fill the void that’s cast such an obvious shadow over his life.
